Valve construction



Jan. 18, 1944. F, A. WALKER VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Forrest A. Walker, by 362/1476 )MwA/wr Hi5 Attorney.

Jan. 18, 1944. F. A. WALKER 2,339,306

' VALVE CONSTRUCT10N 4 Filed 'Nov. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Inventor Forrest A.Wa| ker,

b3 EMA! His Attorney.

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 VALVE CONSTRUCTION Forrest A. Walker, Wheaton, Ill., assignor to Edison General Electric Appliance Company, inc, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application November 20, 1942, Serial No. 466,303

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve construction, more particularly to a valve construction for a vat, such as used in washingapparatus, and it has for its object the provision of a simple and inexpensive valve construction which can be readily disassembled from the vat for replacement, repair or cleaning, and reassembled with the vat, all without disturbing the vat or-the plumbing that is connected with the vat through the valve.

While this invention has more general application, it is especially useful as admin valve for dishwashing apparatus. As is well known in the dishwashing art, the waste fluid handled by the drain valve contains a rather high concentration of greases and other sticky substances. These collect around the valve member and valve seat, and it is necessary that these members be cleaned from time to time, and in some cases repaired or replaced. This invention, therefore, is particularly useful in the dishwasher application since the valve parts can be readily removed for cleaning, replacement or repair.

In accordance with this invention, the vat is provided with a drain piping which is permanently attached to the vat, and communicates with the vat through a drain opening in the vat. Inserted through this'cpening from the inside of the vat i a valve assembly including a valve seat and a cooperating relatively removable valve member connected to the seat. This assembly is detachably secured in its operative position in the opening by means which can be easily operated, such as thumbscrews; and when it is detached it can be withdrawn from the vat itself without disturbing the connection between the vat and drain piping.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of dishwashing apparatus embodying this invention, parts being broken away and shown in section so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. 2 is an elevation of a valve construction used in the Washing apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 being drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but mainly in section, so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. 4 is a view from the line 4- of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the valve assembly.

Referring to the drawings, this invention has been shown in one form as applied to dishwashing apparatus, and for controlling the draining of liquid from the apparatus. This apparatus comprises a vat I0 supported in an upright position in an outer casing ll. At the top, the vat is provided with a cover l2. As shown, the bottom wall I 3 of the vat slopes downwardly toward the center so as to define a receptacle I4 for the washing fluid. Provided within this section of the vat is a suitable liquid circulating impeller which is driven by a suitable electric motor l6 located below the bottom of the vat and connected with the impeller. Washing fluid, which is preferably warm water, is supplied to the vat in through a suitable spray device I! to which the water is fed by means of a supply pipe '8.

Waste fluid is drained from the vat through a drain opening IS in the bottom of the chamber" l4 and into a drain elbow which dis charges into a suitable trap connection 2i that is connected to the drain system (not shown).

The drain elbow 29, as shown, has a reduced tubular section 22 which enters the drain opening l9 of the vat. Outside of the vat the drain elbow is provided with a shoulder 23 which positions the elbow with reference to the vat. The connection between the elbow and the vat is sealed by a gasket 24; this gasket, as shown, has roughly a U-shape with the two legs of the U fitted to the inner and outer surfaces of the vat about the opening l9, the leg on the outside being longer than the other and being clamped betweenthe elbow shoulder 23 and the outer surface of the vat. The gasket may be formed of any suitablematerial, such as soft rubber. The section 22 entering the vat is externally threaded, as shown, and threaded on this section is a suitable clamping nut 25 which when turned inwardly clamps the shoulder 23 firmly against the outer leg of the gasket 24, while the nut itself. bears against the inner leg of the gasket, as shown. Preferably and as shown, a metallic washer 26 will be inserted between the nut 25 and the inner leg of the sealing gasket. The nut is provided with upright lugs 2! spacedat intervals around its periphery and which may be used to turn the nut with reference to the threaded section 22.

The valve construction for controlling the drainage of liquid into the drain elbow 20 is constructed and arranged so that it may be inserted in its operative position and withdrawn therefrom without in any way disturbing the vat ID, the drain elbow 29, or the connections between these two members. The valve structure, as shown, comprises a valve seat member 28 which is adapted to bear against the inner surface of the part 22 of the drain elbow which enters the 2 ifi vat, as shown, and it also comprises a tubular discharge section 29 which is arranged to project into the drain elbow. Preferably and as shown, a suitable liquid sealing gasket 30 will be interposed between the seat member 28 and the inner surface of the drain elbow section 22. The seat member 28 is rigidly secured in its position against the elbow by means of a pair of thumbscrews 3| which are directed through a pair of apertures 32 provided for them in the seat member and received in tapped holes 33 provided for them in the drain elbow.

As pointed out previously, when the seat is thus mounted, its section 29 projects into the drain elbow 29. This section terminates in a valve seat 34 which will be arranged substantially vertically, even though the axis of the tubular extension 29 is inclined because of the inclination of the bottom part l4 of the vat.

Cooperating with the valve seat 34 is a valve element 35 which is arranged to swing from its closed position shown in Fig. 3 outwardly to an open position to the right of its closed position, as viewed inthis figure. The valve is supported by means of an arm 36 which is supported on a pin 3'! rotatably journaled in a pair of arms 38 integrally formed on the valve seat member 28.

It will be observed that the valve seat member 28 and the valve 35 which coacts with its seat 34 constitute a unitary assembly which can readily be secured in its position on the drain elbow by means of the two thumbscrews 3|, the assembly being inserted in its position in the drain elbow from the interior of the vat. In order to remove the assembly, it is merely necessary to unscrew the thumbscrews 3| and remove it as a unitary structure through the vat. It will be observed that this can be done without in any way affecting the vat, the drain elbow 20 or the liquid-tight connection between these two members.

The valve, it will be observed, is free to swing to its open position, and in order to hold it securely in'its closed position when it is desired to retain the washing liquid in the vat, a suitable operating arm 39 is provided in the drain elbow 20. This member is mounted upon an operating shaft 49 which extends to the exterior of the elbow on one side, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4. When the arm 39 is operated by the shaft 49 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, it engages the valve 35 so as to hold it in its closed position. In order to operate the member 39 to this locking position, an operating lever 4| is connected to the projecting section of the shaft 40. This lever 4| is connected with an operating lever 42 (Fig. l) by means of a cable 43 so that when the lever 42 is moved clockwise the cable 43 is drawn to move the operating lever 39 clockwise so as to lock the valve closed. The lever 42 in turn is operated by means of a suitable operating knob 44. When the lever 42 is released, the valve operating arm 39 is moved counterclockwise to a releasing position by means of a torsion spring 45 connected to the operating lever 4|, as shown in Fig. 2.

Whenever the arm 39 is returned to its releasing position of Fig. 3, it engages a hooklike extension 46 rigidly secured to the valve in order to break it away from its seat in case it should be sticking thereto for any reason as by means of the collection of grease. Whenever the arm 39 is moved clockwise to lock the valve closed, its upward extension moves to the dotted line position of Fig. 3, so that when the arm returns to its releasing position of Fig. 3 this end engages the hook to break the valve, as previously described.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a vat provided with an opening therein, a conduit having one end connected with said opening, means providing a liquid seal between said vat and conduit, a valve seat member in said vat having a tubular part entering said conduit, means providing a liquid seal between said seat member and said conduit, releasable fastening means in said vat connecting said seat member to said conduit and readily accessible from the interior of said vat so as to provide for ready removal of said member from said conduit, a valve seat on the inner end of said tubular part located within said conduit, a valve within said conduit cooperating with said seat movably mounted on said part so that it can be moved between opened and closed positions with reference to said seat, actuating means for said valve, and said valve being removable as a unit with said seat member when the latter is released and withdrawn from said opening without affecting said actuating means.

2. In combination, a vat provided with a drain opening in a wall thereof, a drain conduit, means connecting said drain conduit with said vat for draining the vat through said opening, and a valve structure for controlling the draining of liquid from said vat into said conduit comprising, a valve seat member in said vat having a tubular extension thereon projecting through said opening into said conduit, a valve seat on the projecting end of said tubular member, a valve within said conduit, means connecting said valve to said seat member for movement toward and away from said seat, an actuating member for said valve located within said conduit, and means accessible from within said vat for detachably securing said valve seat member so that said seat member with the valve attached to it can be removed through said vat as a unitary assembly without affecting said actuating member and the connection means between said vat and conduit.

FORREST A. WALKER. 

